Soundbytes
The Hometown Band
One of Sonoma’s treasures, the Sonoma Hometown Band will be presenting its spring concert on Saturday, April 15, at the Sebastiani Theatre, kicking off at 1 p.m. The show will feature an encore presentation of “General Fremont’s March” in addition to many well known American standards. The piece was written by band director John Partridge, who became the conductor of the band after sitting in to cover for the director at the time, Justin Ehright. Ehright presented the piece initially, and Partridge went on to say ““Justin conducted the premiere performances and it was a thrill hearing my piece come to life! I’ve revised it a bit and I’m very happy to have a chance to hear the band play it again.” John Charles Fremont was an American military officer, explorer, and politician, and was legendary for his exploration of the far west and leadership in acquiring California from Mexico, and was also the one that jailed General Vallejo after the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846. In addition to the Fremont piece, concert-goers will have the opportunity to hear the band’s renditions of music from “West Side Story,” “the Wizard of Oz” and “That’s Entertainment.”
The band only performs about five times each year, for the spring concert, Memorial day, the Fourth of July and then for a holiday concert. Anyone can join the band, as there are no auditions, you just have to want to be there along with the 25 or so members they currently have in the band. With this weeks performance already rehearsed, the band will be taking some weeks off of rehearsal, which happens at Sonoma Valley High School. If you miss this Saturday’s performance, the band will be doing an encore next week at Quarryhill Botanical Gardens on Saturday, April 22, for an Earth day celebration.
For more information about the band or to inquire about joining, you can point your browser to sonomahometownband.org, or by calling John Partridge at 415-260-6396.
###############
Whitney
Not a week goes by that one of our heroes of rock leaves the planet, so it’s nice to see young bands, that actually write music and play instruments still making a splash in the scene. Indie rockers Whitney will be gracing the redwood barn stage at Gundlach Bundschu winery tonight, April, 14, kicking off at 7 p.m. The seven-piece act, which hails from Chicago, doesn’t actually have anyone named Whitney in the band, and it’s not clear to us where the name came from, but corralling them to actually ask the question might be tough. The band has toured essentially non-stop since their release of “Light upon the Lake” in early 2016, with a stop at SXSW along the way. 2017 is panning out no differently, as immediately after tonight’s show, the band is off to Coachella for an appearance at the legendary indie-rock music festival, followed up by three sold-out shows at the Independent in San Francisco. The band has shows booked literally every weekend through August of this year.
Tickets will be available at the door and parking is free for motorcycles, full two-seater cars, cars with three or more people and Bacchus Wine Club members. For more info, point your browser to gunbun.ticketfly.com
###############
Set List – The Rundown
Annex Wine Bar, 865 W. Napa St. Sonoma, 938-7779
Tonight, April 14: Calvin and Ron. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 15: Tangled up in Blue. 7:30 p.m.
Friday Farmers Market, Depot Park, 270 First St W. Sonoma
Today, April 14: Stewart Degner. 9:30 a.m.
Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 2000 Denmark St. Sonoma, 938-5277
Tonight, April 14: Whitney and Julie Byrne. 7 p.m.
HopMonk Tavern, 691 Broadway Sonoma, 935-9100
Tonight, April 14: Frankie Bourne. 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 15: Brian Dolzani. 8 p.m.
Murphy’s Irish Pub, 464 First St. E. Sonoma, 935-0660
Tonight, April 14: Sean Carscadden Trio. 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 15: Peace of G. 8 p.m.
Olde Sonoma Public House, 18615 Sonoma Hwy. Boyes Hot Springs, 938-7587
Tonight, April 14: Ryan Tatarian. 6:30 p.m. Reggae Night with Byron Borges. 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 15: Karaoke. 7:30 p.m.
The Reel Fish Shop and Grill, 401 Grove St. El Verano, 343-0044
Friday, April 14: The Cork Pullers. 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 15: Rubber Soul. 8:30 p.m.
Sebastiani Theatre, 476 First St. E. Sonoma, 996-9756
Saturday, April 15: Sonoma Hometown Band. 1 p.m.
Sonoma Speakeasy and American Music Hall, 452 First St. E. ste. G. Sonoma, 996-1364
Tonight, April 14: Jim Caroompas. 6:30 p.m. New Copasetics. 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 15: Full Circle. 5 p.m. Les Amis Zydeco Band. 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 16: Closed for Easter
The Starling Bar, 19380 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, 996-3055
Saturday, April 15: DJ Lady Char. 5 p.m. Rumbahia. 9 p.m.
If your gig isn’t in my column, you didn’t tell me about it. jmberry@sonomamusic.com